EWG’s California Agriculture Program

April 2009

We conduct research and advocate for state and federal policies that will accelerate the adoption of sustainable, climate friendly farming practices and systems in California.

Agriculture, Climate Change and Water Resources

EWG works to accelerate the adoption of farming practices and systems in California that will:

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Sequester carbon
• Conserve water
• Reduce energy inputs.

We also work to reform our highly inequitable and environmentally harmful federal subsidy programs. These programs encourage farming practices that increase greenhouse gas emissions, drive small farms out of business, and rob scarce resources from other programs that deliver far greater public and environmental benefit.

Why Do We Want to Change Farming Practices?

Many industrial farming practices are highly dependent on energy intensive agrochemicals that deplete our soil, pollute our air and water and generate significant greenhouse gas emissions. By adopting more sustainable practices, farmers will be more resilient to increasingly harsh and extreme weather patterns, while delivering numerous co-benefits for farmers and the public at large. These practices include:

• Cover cropping
• Conservation tillage
• Organic fertilizer and compost application
• Efficient nutrient management
• Afforestation (tree planting) and vegetative buffer zones
• Efficient irrigation management

Background Materials Related to Our Work

• EWG letter to the California Air Resources Board calling for swifter action to address agriculture’s role in Climate Change
• Read our Mulch Blog Post: “Federal Subsidies Worsen California Drought”
• EWG’s water subsidy report – highlighting that taxpayer subsidized cheap water is benefitting large agribusiness operations, not the small family farmers federal water projects.
• EWG Report: How Big Ag Taps Into Taxpayers' Pockets – Twice-through water subsidies and commodity crop subsidies
• EWG Report: on the massive energy subsidies to California Agribusiness
• Sign-on letter to California Department of Water Resources with comments on the draft California Water Pan Update 2009.
• Sign on letter to Congressman Farr and Senator Feinstein opposing proposed cuts to conservation funding
• EWG Report: California’s Climate Change Policy Leaves Agriculture in the Dust highlighting major missed opportunities for synergies in climate change mitigation and adaptation.
• Blog post: California Leads on Climate Change, Except in Agriculture

   

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